Defining Duke: An Xbox Podcast

As the industry prepares for 2024's final and massive news week in The Game Awards, we sink our teeth into Indiana Jones & The Great Circle! This is the final massive (and temporary) Xbox exclusive for 2024, but more importantly, this is Machine Games's first release since the disastrous Wolfenstein Youngblood. What has the team been cooking in the time they've been away? The results just may surprise you if your expectations were in the company of Uncharted and Tomb Raider. We also dive deep into Kingdom Come Deliverance 2's aggressive release date move and what that means for its direct competitor in Avowed plus rumors of Forza Horizon 5 dropping on PlayStation, Game Awards predictions, and plenty more!Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.0:00:00 - Intro0:29:26 - Forza Horizon 5 coming to PlayStation?0:35:11 - Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 releases February 4th0:53:10 - A new Stalker 2 patch is out with over 650 fixes0:55:18 - Ubisoft is shutting down XDefiant1:06:21 - BioWare’s Corinne Busche on future choices within Dragon Age1:11:46 - News on Lies Of P developer next game1:20:47 - FromSoftware is not doing Elden Ring 21:28:25 - Visions of Mana director Ryosuke Yoshida is leaving Netease1:29:57 - Hironobu Sakaguchi on returning to Xbox1:36:45 - Marvel Rivals monetization revealed1:43:59 - What We’re Playing2:39:10 - The final Game Pass drops of 2024…2:43:12 - Game Pass Pick Of The Week Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The world of gaming sure didn't slow down for turkey week as the Dukes has plenty to dive into! It begins with the handheld wars. Steam, ASUS, Logitech, and many others have thrown their hat into the ring, but most await what Xbox and PlayStation will do. Recently, it was confirmed that an Xbox handheld is in development, but now Bloomberg has suggested that PlayStation is working on their own too. With the rise of PS Plus and streaming, PlayStation is slimming down the gap between them and Xbox on many features. What will Xbox need to do beyond timing its release well to compete with a company as synonymous with handhelds as Nintendo? More importantly, will Xbox and PlayStation find any success in a market that has seen very little handhelds sold in the scheme of things. We're far removed from the days of the Nintendo DS, Game Boy Advance, and PlayStation Portable. So, what gives? The Dukes sink their teeth into this juicy rumor. Naturally, we discuss the evolving situation including Avowed and its art director. Has the situation gone too far and what action can be taken on both sides to mitigate this disaster? The talk is complicated and so we peel it back layer-by-layer as we get into the thick of another fantasy game caught in chaos. Plus, more on Xbox's new Game Studios lead, Call Of Duty's 4 year development cycle, and much more!Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.0:00:00 - Intro0:25:01 - Avowed director Carrie Patel spoke to Gamesradar on Obsidian’s next game versus the competition0:34:59 - 4 year dev cycles for Call Of Duty are the new norm?0:42:37 - S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 has already sold 1 million copies0:48:27 - Square Enix wants Final Fantasy VII Remake on Xbox0:57:51 - Craig Duncan is officially the new head of Xbox Game Studios1:00:09 - Black Myth Wukong getting “surprises” later in the year1:02:03 - The Witcher 4 has entered full production, Cyberpunk 2077 has sold 30 million copies, and a new animated Cyberpunk show is on the way1:08:09 - Casey Hudson’s studio, Humanoid Origin, has shut down1:23:03 - Baldur’s Gate 3 profits insight1:28:48 - Balatro made a looooot of money1:32:29 - Top 20 best selling games for October in US1:37:31 - What We’re Playing2:09:08 - PlayStation's handheld has leaked2:35:24 - Avowed drama recap3:05:18 - Game Pass Pick Of The Week Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Contrary to their usual behavior, Xbox's communication has left no room for guessing as of late. In a recent marketing campaign titled "This Is An Xbox," the team showed a plethora of devices that you can access the Xbox ecosystem from. Following our conversation about Phil Spencer's interview with Bloomberg, the message already seemed clear that multi-platform is the future. Now, that message is crystal clear and there is no going back. The Dukes dive into the meaning behind this ad and, of course, what caveats may lie within their messaging as Phil was quick to assure console users that there would be more hardware. With plummeting hardware sales, why would Xbox seemingly abandon an install base of over 30 million users and risk damaging the start of their next generation? This becomes an even bigger question when their push on mobile is in its early beginnings and its PC app desperately needs work. The Xbox experience is best on the console, so what gives? Naturally, we have a lot to say on that, but we also have much to say on GAMES! The Dukes had a chance to go hands-on with Avowed in a digital preview event and things are shaping up quite nicely for Obsidian's next RPG. We get into the thick of our builds, choices, exploration, and even some bugs. We also dive into the hotly anticipated S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 which has faced much adversity in its lead up to launch. Now it's here and Matty has some thoughts after over 15 hours with the game so far. Plus more on Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024's disastrous launch, The Game Awards GOTY nominee kerfuffle, Starfield's November update, and plenty more in an episode with seemingly endless subjects to dive into!Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.0:00:00 - Intro0:11:51 - Game Awards GOTY nominees0:29:02 - Starfield's November Update0:30:42 - Todd Howard’s takeaway on Shattered Space0:42:48 - Microsoft Flight Sim 2024's chaotic launch0:50:55 - Atomfall gets a release date0:53:52 - Assassin's Creed Syndicate gets a next generation patch0:59:48 - Kunitsu-Gami: Path Of The Goddess failed to hit its sales targets1:03:52 - Remedy's shocking sales and budget transparency1:07:55 - Embracer Group continues to plummet01:13:21 - Dynasty Warriors Origins gets demo on November 221:13:52 - What We’re Playing2:10:24 - This is an Xbox advertisements2:33:56 - Sony is looking into purchasing the Kadokawa Corporation2:56:22 - Avowed is coming to Battle Net and has 5 days of early access3:11:19 - Coming soon to Xbox Game Pass3:14:20 - Game Pass Pick Of The Week Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today's main topic would have set the internet on fire earlier this year. Xbox's complete admission of a mutli-platform push, delayed handheld and mobile plans, as well as a desire to acquire more studios? Team Green is typically in a meltdown state by this point, but this time around, the news was met with indifference. Why is that the case? Well, for one, many who paid close attention to Xbox's actions, or even lack of action, knew that all this was inevitable. Xbox is seemingly abandoning its exclusive games initiative as Phil Spencer has stated there isn't a red line for quite literally any first party game in its stable. The Dukes break down his comments alongside the third party scene to see if there is any vindication for the Xbox leader's words earlier this year. Long anticipated was a Xbox handheld, but with Phil confirming that it's years out, where will this leave Xbox if they are the last to enter the ring as a handheld competitor? Steam, Logitech, Nintendo, PlayStation, ASUS, and so many others have brought their own ideas to the market with varying degrees of reception. Can Xbox succeed in an inevitably saturated market where players have already made their choice by the point they show up? The Dukes hash it out! Plus a deep dive into Indiana Jones's new gameplay, Halo 2's famous E3 demo is now playable, OG voice actors are returning for Gears E-Day, and so much more in one of our biggest episodes of the year!Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.0:00:00 - Intro0:01:57 - Health Is Wealth0:15:25 - Game Dev Talk0:20:06 - John Dimaggio and Carlos Ferro are returning for Gears Of Way E-Day to voice Dom and Marcus0:22:14 - The Halo 2 E3 2003 demo0:25:32 - Death Stranding is now available on Xbox0:31:44 - Indiana Jones & The Great Circle gameplay deep dive0:39:29 - South Of Midnight previews are out0:46:22 - S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 has gone gold0:56:20 - Phil Spencer on future Fallout games1:05:14 - Black Ops 6 is collabing with Halo, Gears, and DOOM?1:07:04 - Spyro Reignited Trilogy is now available in Xbox Game Pass1:07:37 - Warner Bros is plummeting1:15:29 - GOG announces game preservation program1:21:30 - SEGA is delisting a ton of retro classics1:27:38 - 2K opens up on future games lineup1:32:54 - GTA Trilogy: Definitive Edition gets a surprise update1:34:28 - Tom Henderson’s report on Ubisoft’s Project U1:39:23 - Sea Of Stars gets a massive free update1:46:28 - Hideaki Itsuno joins Tencent1:52:17 - Why exactly did Konami choose MGS3 for a remake?1:55:24 - A Mass Effect TV series is in development at Amazon2:05:41 - What We’re Playing2:53:16 - Phil Spencer tells all in an interview with Bloomberg3:39:05 - Bethesda goes on strike3:46:14 - Game Pass Pick Of The Week Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In a week with minimal major beats, the Dukes are able to sink their teeth into a plethora of smaller topics such as Xbox's recruitment of Insomniac's creative director, the fate of PlayStation's Wolverine project, and what this means for Perfect Dark! Furthermore, we try our hand at some data analysis by breaking down the early numbers for Call Of Duty and what impact this can have on Game Pass as well as its future. Indeed, many including us still believe that Black Ops 6 needs to be an absolute smash hit to justify Xbox's tampering with its golden goose. So, what does the limited data say and how does it fare for Xbox? We discuss that, plus more in Remedy's puzzling financial situation, BioWare's uncertain future, Ubisoft's response to recent criticism, and Monster Hunter Wilds smashing records with its beta.Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.0:00:00 - Intro0:06:02 - A new creative director for Perfect Dark0:13:50 - Xbox showing new hardware in 2025?0:25:02 - HoYoverse is bringing Zenless Zone Zero to Xbox?0:26:19 - The future of Gears0:34:05 - Arkane Studios founder speaks out against Xbox0:40:37 - Dragon Age: The Veilguard is not getting DLC0:44:25 - Is Dragon Age getting a Legendary Edition?0:50:11 - Some updates in the world of Ubisoft0:59:22 - Monster Hunter Wilds has insane beta numbers1:01:02 - Remedy's financial situation1:07:15 - LEGO Horizon Adventures length revealed1:10:46 - A sequel to HogLeg is in development1:13:08 - Kingdom Come Deliverance has sold over 8 million units1:16:24 - Meta’s staggering earnings1:24:53 - Private Division has been sold off by 2K1:26:07 - SEGA confirms a new Virtua Fighter game1:28:44 - What We’re Playing1:59:50 - Call Of Duty updates2:15:59 - Some Undead Labs updates2:18:57 - Coming soon to Xbox Game Pass2:25:19 - Game Pass Pick Of The Week Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The annual Call Of Duty release is here and it's a remarkable improvement from Modern Warfare 3! From the blockbuster campaign crafted by the underrated hands at Raven Software to its multiplayer and zombies that the Dukes have some mild concerns with. It's also the week that, for many, can define a lot of Xbox's big business decisions moving forward as well! With Game Pass subscribers stagnating a bit, many have looked to this Call Of Duty as the shot in the arm it needs to keep its stellar offering going. Keep in mind, the Game Pass tiers saw a major shift ahead of this release with some feeling like day one Game Pass releases may soon be off the table if this bet doesn't pan out. While the numbers aren't in yet, things are looking solid and the Dukes have much to talk about in this area! Plus more with Indiana Jones' framerate, updates on the tone of the next Mass Effect, Concord being shut down, and so much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As every October 23rd comes around, Fallout fans are reminded of the missed opportunity for Bethesda to have their own "N7 Day" with the franchise. Well, 2024 is the year they finally took action and put fan demands into motion! What took place is, quite frankly, a whole lot of nothing. The Dukes sift through the fallout (!) of this showcase and what Bethesda can do to make 2025's showing a much better, more worthwhile one. While it's Fallout Day, it also appears to be Digital Day for Xbox! 91% of US players are buying games digitally and half of Xbox's customers have bought into their discless console. Has Xbox's push into cloud gaming and Game Pass been vindicated in light of these statistics? Plus, we have info on 2025's Call Of Duty the very week that Black Ops 6 drops! What does Activision have in store for us? More changes, it seems! We also get into the Banjo Kazooie kerfuffle, Helldivers 2 on Xbox, Cog's love of Metaphor, the surprise that is TMNT: Mutants Unleashed, and plenty more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

No, you're not imagining it! We have been getting a LOT of Xbox showcases as of late. Just weeks removed from their Tokyo Game Show panel and they have returned once more with a Partner Preview that ran for almost thirty minutes. Before that was Gamescom and before THAT was their massive summer show. Joining the Dukes are LSM's very own Gene Park and Bradley Ellis to discuss all the announcements and gameplay (or lack thereof) during the Partner Preview. Did it deliver like prior Xbox shows or was it a bit of a nothing burger? Naturally, we get into that. We also discuss Xbox Game Studios' new lead as well as rounding out our latest criticism of Bethesda, Metaphor's impressive sales, Destiny Rising, and the future of Xbox's streaming tech! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Following the post launch support of Halo Infinite, 343 Industries has become one of Xbox's more divisive first party studios. The leash for them has been unnaturally long given the ups-and-downs the flagship franchise has seen since they've taken up the Halo mantle beginning with Combat Evolved Anniversary and, now, Xbox is doubling down on the team. Joining us is resident Halo expert, Chris Ray Gun, to discuss the absolutely massive news that broke this week. Not only is 343 Industries rebranding, but all future games will be made on Unreal Engine 5, they're hiring after a massive amount of layoffs, and there are multiple Halo projects in development. One such project beyond the obvious next mainline entry is rumored to be Halo Combat Evolved Remaster. The Dukes plus Chris get into this very familiar path that Halo Studios is now walking plus the daunting challenge that lies before them Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Starfield faced a mighty amount of criticism throughout its 2023 launch. In today's gaming climate, this set the stage for what could be a big comeback for Bethesda Game Studios with the Shattered Space expansion. So, did it deliver? Matty has played 16 hours and finished it with Cog just getting his adventure started, so they both have much to say! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices